Archive for October, 2011

Halloween should be fun, but every year it gets scarier for parents, and the planet. Discoveries such as lead in fake teeth as well as face paints and candy, carcinogenic chemicals found in costumes and candy, and the surmounting garbage left in the holiday’s wake make many of us wonder why we haven’t given up the festivities and spent October 31 watching It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. The good news is there are loads of children, and earth-friendly alternatives to the usual Halloween fare, and they can be fun, too. The answer: Celebrate a Green Halloween®!

It might seem that planning a Green Halloween is just too much work and way too expensive. Some fear it might even zap the fun right out of the day. But creating an eco-savvy Halloween doesn’t have to be scary, nor does it have to cost an arm and a leg. Not only does Green Halloween show us how to make choices, it also lessens the load by giving us a great portion of the solutions. We do the research; you have the fun!

Two of Daytona Beach’s upcoming Green Halloween events are both taking place on Saturday, October 29th and both are FREE of admission charges.

Hallogreen® is taking place from 8-2pm in City Island Park near 105 E Magnolia Avenue, Daytona Beach, 32118.

The Green Pumpkin 50/50 Challenge is taking place at the Port Orange Green Market from 8-12noon at 5501 S Williamson Boulevard.

The 3rd annual Hallogreen® festival is our local signature event, incorporating just about every aspect Green Halloween works to get people to consider when making more sustainable choices. Eek-O Costume contests for both kids and dogs. Treat-or-Treasuring (cuz we don’t trick). Paddle boarding lessons on the Halifax River. Our vendors list features over thirty eco vendors including nonprofits with eco and family friendly missions, local agriculturists and urban farmers and growers, handmade local crafters, holistic pet adoption, natural alternatives to beauty and health, upcyclers, arts and crafters, and more…you get the picture.

The Green Pumpkin 50/50 Challenge is based on a Yale study where children were given a choice between a healthy treat or toy or conventional candy Over 50% chose the healthy treat or toy, and we are psyched to see if we reach the same results (Our sponsors treats are so delicious, we might even beat the statistic. ;-D ) Activities include pumpkin crafts, face painting, a Silent-Auction and contest for Jack-o-lanterns carved by local Port Orange restaurants and chefs, and more.

Vendors:

Over 30 vendors will be featured at the Green Pumpkin including Thirty One Gifts, Amanda’s Dance, Smart Start Tutoring, Little Gym, Inspiration Learning Center, and Florida EcoNet and Green Halloween®.

Calling ALL Eco Businesses and organizations,

We’re very excited to announce that we will no longer have our event on the pavement…(HURRAY!)…instead, the City of Daytona Beach has allowed us to move the Hallogreen to City Island Park overlooking the Halifax River, where we will be trailing the vendors nicely around the sidewalk area. We are very grateful to Daytona Market, LLC for sponsoring this new location. Be sure to ask Cheryl Kelly about Daytona Markets and the City of Daytona Beach’s plans for their upcoming CITY MARKET (public market). Can’t you just picture the sparkling glimmer of the water and feel that City Island breeze?

Well, the other good thing is that this change provides a bigger location, which means we can potentially accept more vendors. So we have extended the completed applicationdeadline to Saturday, October 22nd. If you have not yet sent your application, please do so asap, and be sure to tell any and all of your friends about this spook-tacular event.